SURT192RMXLBP2 One or more battery modules are not connected

[BillP]

A month ago we installed a Smart-UPS RT 15kVA RM 230V (SURT15KRMXLI) with 6 additional external battery packs (SURT192RMXLBP2).

Yesterday the battery LED on the third battery pack in the daisy chain (that's the second external one) started blinking red (once every second).

According to the local operator this started approx. 3 hours after a successful scheduled self-test.

The UPS itself did not report an alarm.

I followed the instructions outlined in the XLBP2 installation guide (ASTE-6Z8LVH_R5_EN.pdf) under "Battery LED" but without access to the display interface had to refer to the NMC2 UPS status web page:

1. unit has been running for 3 weeks since last battery removal/insertion

2. UPS status web page reports 28 batteries installed (1 x 4 internal + 6 x 4 external) and 0 bad batteries

3. battery charge is 100%

4. the UPS is currently hardly utilized at 4% kVA (0.6kVA)

5. runtime remaining 24h

Then I ran another successful self-test (UPS not reporting any alarm).

The LED is still blinking once every second and I'm a bit at loss as to what this could mean.

According to the manual it indicates that "One or more battery modules are not connected."

The NMC2 UPS status web page reports 28 batteries connected, which is exactly the total number of battery cartridges installed in the battery compartments (7 x 4).

When all battery cartridges in the configuration are detected by the UPS, how can the battery pack report one as missing?

Any advice appreciated.

Thanks

-- Stefan

UPS

Model: Smart-UPS RT 15000 RM XL
Position: RACK
Serial Number: QS1417271872
Firmware Revision: 1101.0200.I
Manufacture Date: 04/28/14

NMC

Model Number: AP9631
Serial Number: 5A1417T06730
Hardware Revision: 05
Manufacture Date 04/22/2014 
sumx: v6.4.0
aos: v6.4.0
bootmon: v1.0.8

[BillP]

Just recently (yesterday) the operator noticed that the battery LED went dark again.

Has anybody else experienced this?

[BillP]

Hi,

The issue may be caused by the light load. 

If the Battery LED may remain illuminated perform the following steps to extinguish the LED:

1. Allow the unit to run for two continuous hours without removing or installing batteries.
2. Verify the PowerView display shows the CHRG (battery charge), is greater than 95%.
3. Verify the PowerView display shows the Load is greater than 5% multiplied by the number of external battery packs installed.  Example: If 2 XLBP to be used then minimum load is 11%.
4. Verify the PowerView display shows the Runtime is greater than 00hr3.5m.
5. Perform a self-test.

[BillP · Accepted solution]

Hi Bill,

Thanks for the suggestions.

On 2/23/2016 1:02 PM, Bill said:

The issue may be caused by the light load. 

That's what I suspected as well because we followed all the steps except increasing the load to 30% (5% x 6 external battery packs).

I think we'll try to find some big cooking plates to get 2500W load.

Any idea why this would just come and go under low load?

Thanks

--Stefan